Clamping mechanism for platform

ABSTRACT

In the clamping mechanism for a working platform, which is temporarily set up in the constructing of structures, e.g., a building, a hull or the like, an improved clamping mechanism wherein a cotter having counter teeth is so fitted as to be slidable between a flange of fixture of a clamp body, which is arranged along side wall of structure, and said body and a rotatable cross arm is further connected to said clamping body. The setting-up and taking down of this mechanism is easily accomplished.

United States Patent Hikai et al.

[4 1 Sept. 16, 1975 CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PLATFORM Inventors: Akio I-Iikai; Yoshiyuki Kobayashi;

Kazuyoshi Furuta, all of Shizuoka, Japan Appl. No.1 474,973

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 319,767, Dec. 29, 1972, Pat. No. 3,837,606.

.[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 29, 1971 Japan 47-2639 [52] U.S. Cl. 248/242 [51] Int. Cl. E04G 3/02 [58] Field of Search 248/226 R, 246.4, 228, 248/242; 403/81, 291, 374; 182/82 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 544.216 8/1895 Drost 403/81 I l I I 7 I I I I I I I I I I5 I E Ila I I I 689,420 12/1901 Scammell.... 248/288 UX 1,375,225 4/1921 Marshall 248/242 1,740,364 12/1969 Dal Maso.... 248/226 R X 3,114,531 12/1963 Weber 248/242 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 302,951 12/ 1928 United Kingdom 248/242 279,992 11/1927 United Kingdom.... 248/242 20,476 5/1915 United Kingdom 248/242 Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or FirmGeorge B. Oujevolk I ABSTRACT In the clamping mechanism for a working platform, which is temporarily set up in the constructing of structures, e.g., a building, a hull or the like, an improved clamping mechanism wherein a cotter having counter teeth is so fitted as to be slidable between a flange of fixture of a clamp body, which is arranged along side wall of structure, and said body and a rotatable cross arm is further connected to said clamping body. The setting-up and taking down of this mechanism is easily accomplished.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 1 6 I975 SHEET 1 BF 3 PATENTEI] SEF] 6 L975 sum 3 n5 3 CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR PLATFORM This is a division of application Ser. No. 319,767 filed Dec. 29, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,837,606.

This invention relates to an improved clamping mechanism for a working platform and more particularly, to an arrangement which can be set up and taken down with ease as occasion demands.

When the inside and outside wall of structures, e.g. a building, a hull or the like, are cleaned or coated, a working platform is usually arranged along the wall. In such case, attempts have been made to support said platform. For example sometimes a hook-shaped clamp is fitted on the flange of fixtures arranged along the Wall or a fan-shaped bracket is welded to the fixtures. However, there are many difficulties on setting up and taking down or adjusting of the mechanism.

Therefore, this invention is developed and characterized in that a cotter having counter teeth is so fitted as to be slidable between a flange of fixtures of a clamp body, which is arranged along the side wall of structures, and a clamping body, and a rotatable cross arm is further connected to said clamping body.

An object of this invention is to provide a clamping mechanism which is possible to be set up and taken down with ease.

Another object of this invention is to provide a claamping mechanism which can be adjusted to a proper and level of a working platform with ease.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the whole of this invention mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing an assembly of clamping body, cotter and cross arm.

FIG. 3 is a plan of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a front view seen from the right side of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is a side view of other example based on this invention respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the mechanism of this invention mechanism. Numeral 10 is an inclined side wall of structure. Accordingly, a fixture arranged along said wall is also inclined in the same manner. To frame 11 of said fixture there is a clamp body 1, a clamp portion 2 of said body 1, a cross arm 3, a screwbolt 6 for a member having substantially the shape of a right triangle, i.e., cotter 14, another screw bolt 8 for said cross arm 3, and fixing holes 19 of arm 3 for another cross arm 13 on which planks 12 are placed. The details of setting up the above elements are as shown in FIG. 2 and 4 and described hereinafter.

In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, assembling is shown. First, a screw joint 5 and a receiver 5a disposed at right angles to each other to receive the corresponding sides of the cotter 14 are provided on said clamping body 1 and said cotter 14 is fitted therein. Counter teeth 15 are formed on the side contact the cotter 14 with the frame 11. The cotter 14 is supported so as to be slidable by a small screw 16 inserted into a long hole of receiver 5a. There is also another screw bolt disposed at right angles to the aforesaid small screw 16. This screw bolt 6 having double-nut 7 is included in said screw joint 5. When the screw bolt 16 is operated, cotter 14 is moved with ease and clamping body 1 is fixed to frame 11 at an optional position as the clamping portion 2 is fitted on a flange 1 1a of frame 1 1 If wall 10 is vertical, the position of cross arm 13 can be readjusted directly.

When wall 10 is inclined, cross arm 3 is further set up to said clamping body 1. In such a case, first, a shaft 4 is set up at the lower part of clamping body 1 and a bearing device 24 for said shaft 4 is assembled as a unit along the above screw joint 5. The cross arm 3 is fitted to shaft 4. One neck 9a of a boss 9 is supported in the middle portion of arm 3 and another neck of boss 9 is held by a plate 23 which is fixed to shaft 4 and opposed to said cross arm 3. A screw bolt 8 is fitted to boss 9 and another boss 20 which is a point of support and then a nut and a cotter pin are disposed on the front end of screw bolt 8 so as not to come out. Said bolt 3 is held in said boss 20. Another cross arm 13 is fixed to cross arm 3 through setting-up holes 19. Planks 12 are placed on cross arm 13 and a required working platform is formed. In this mechanism, when said screw bolt 8 is operated, said cross arm 3 is rotated with ease. Thus, the level of cross arm 13 can be readily adjusted. is disposed alongside the cross arm 3, the level is easily verified.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 other examples based on this invention are shown. FIG. 5 is an example wherein the position of shaft 4 and boss 20 is reversed as against that of FIG. 2. With the above formation, compressive force acts on the clamping mechanism, while that of FIG. 2 is tensile force.

A worm gear mechanism is employed in FIG. 6, that is, a one-fourth circular worm wheel 25 is attached to clamping body 1 by both shafts 4 and 30 and is coupled to a worm 26 of a bar 28 rotating by bearing 27. The removal of worm 26 is prevented by a stopper 29. In this mechanism, when rotatable bar 20 is operated, cross arm 3 is rotated through worm wheel 25 and then worm 26. With such actions, the level of cross arm 13 (not shown in FIG. 6) can be readily adjusted.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for supporting a scaffolding workplank (12) comprising in combination:

a. a supporting body (1) with an outer supporting portion and an inner clamp portion (2) for clamping onto a flange (11a) a lower cotter receiver aperture (5a) in said body;

. a cross-arm (3) pivotally coupled to said outer supporting portion on a pivot shaft (4), a first adjustment screw bolt (8) away from said pivot shaft (4) connecting said body (1) and said cross-arm (3) for threaded adjusting of the position of said crossarm;

c. a cotter wedge (14) in said cotter receiver aperture (5a) with an elongated outer engaging side having teeth (15) thereon for engaging a structure wall and a second adjustment screw bolt (6) connected to said body and said cotter for threaded adjusting of the contact of said cotter teeth (15) with the structure wall;

. a third adjustment screw bolt (16) in said body disposed perpendicular to said second screw bolt (6) for engaging said cotter wedge (14); and,

e. a first and second worm wheels (25, 26) in engagement with said body, and grip means (28) to turn said second worm Wheel (26), the rotation of said grip means causing rotation of said first worm wheel (25) pivoting said cross-arm (3) around said pivot shaft (4). 

1. A device for supporting a scaffolding workplank (12) comprising in combination: a. a supporting body (1) with an outer supporting portion and an inner clamp portion (2) for clamping onto a flange (11a) a lower cotter receiver aperture (5a) in said body; b. a cross-arm (3) pivotally coupled to said outer supporting portion on a pivot shaft (4), a first adjustment screw bolt (8) away from said pivot shaft (4) connecting said body (1) and said cross-arm (3) for threaded adjusting of the position of said cross-arm; c. a cotter wedge (14) in said cotter receiver aperture (5a) with an elongated outer engaging side having teeth (15) thereon for engaging a structure wall and a second adjustment screw bolt (6) connected to said body and said cotter for threaded adjusting of the contact of said cotter teeth (15) with the structure wall; d. a third adjustment screw bolt (16) in said body disposed perpendicular to said second screw bolt (6) for engaging said cotter wedge (14); and, e. a first and second worm wheels (25, 26) in engagement with said body, and grip means (28) to turn said second worm wheel (26), the rotation of said grip means causing rotation of said first worm wheel (25) pivoting said cross-arm (3) around said pivot shaft (4). 